Iconic British retailer Fortnum & Mason has announced the winners of the 2025 Fortnum & Makers Open Call, a nationwide initiative to discover the next generation of extraordinary British food and drink makers. Unlike traditional supplier onboarding, this nationwide search invited entries from small producers across the UK, resulting in over 200 submissions and a highly competitive judging process, from which ten producers have been selected to have their products stocked at Fortnum & Mason’s iconic Piccadilly store from this month.
Following a rigorous selection process, entrants were initially assessed for originality, sustainability, and alignment with Fortnum’s values of innovation, quality, provenance, and craft. A final shortlist were invited into Piccadilly to host tasting sessions with Fortnum’s experienced buying team for final consideration.
Each of the ten exceptional makers chosen to have their products stocked on Fortnum & Mason’s shelves from this month will gain prestigious shelf space and the opportunity to directly engage with customers through sampling events and storytelling experiences in Fortnum’s Food & Drink Studio. Each winner will also be displayed in Fortnum’s famous Duke Street windows, until mid-October.
MEET THE MAKERS
Bakery: Gingerbread World
These intricate, hand-made, hand-decorated centrepieces capture the magic of childhood stories in edible form. Using traditional gingerbread recipes, Gingerbread World offers houses, kits and customer builds.
Grocery – Sweet Spread: Crwst
Baked in small batches in Cardigan, Wales, premium caramel spreads are all handmade from scratch and feature local ingredients and are known for their silky smooth texture and rich, salty flavour.
Grocery – Oils: Omega Pressery
Omega Pressery crafts single-origin Avocado and Macadamia cooking oils that are cold-pressed from wonky avocados and nuts from a network of smallholder farms in Kenya. The oil is 100% pure and natural and full of heart-healthy fats.
Grocery – Snacking: Curry Smugglers
Handmade in small batches in Kent, Curry Smugglers use locally sourced, plant-based ingredients and are uniquely packaged in plastic-free craft beer cans to maintain freshness – an innovative and sustainable choice.
Grocery – Woodfired Hot Sauce & Condiments: Spiced Sussex
Roasted and smoked with wood in the heart of Brighton, Spiced Sussex products use very few ingredients and no additives.
Grocery – Salts: Feel Complete
Aura Salt is a first-of-its-kind organic flavoured salt, crafted in small batches in the Cotswolds, that delivers Vitamin D and botanicals, and is designed to support balance and vitality.
Grocery – Condiments: The Umami Bros
Umami Bros has created the first UK-produced Japanese Style Mayonnaise that is Gluten and MSG free – made from British rapeseed oil with a unique vinegar blend.
Drinks – Cordial: Root 2 Ginger
Packed with cold-pressed Peruvian ginger root, Root 2 Ginger is a family-run business originating from the Caribbean. It uses 100% organic and ethically sourced ingredients and no artificial sweeteners or flavours.
Drinks – Gin: Isle of Bute Distillery
Sustainability made in small batches, the Oyster Gin is a truly unique spirit distilled with Scottish oysters for a silky, maritime twist on a classic London dry. The crisp, savoury profile pairs beautifully with seafood and makes a great martini.
Drinks – Soft Drinks: Belly Dance
Fun, fermented and lightly sparkling, Belly Dance is packed with unique probiotics to create a low-sugar, dairy-free, caffeine-free fix that’s bubbling with benefits, helping to promote a healthy gut microbiome.
Liz Morgan, director of buying for food, wine & spirits at Fortnum & Mason, said: “We were overwhelmed by the quality, creativity, and passion of this year’s entrants. The selected makers bring exciting new stories, flavours and values to our shelves, and we’re thrilled to support their next chapter at Fortnum’s.”
Each winning maker will be available in-store and online from 14th August 2025. For more information on the open call and judging process, visit here: https://www.fortnumandmason.com/open-call-terms-conditions
